Leverkusen boss banned for five games after rant at referee

The German Football Association (DFB) banned the Bayer Leverkusen coach Roger Schmidt for five games on Wednesday for refusing a referee's order to leave the touchline during a Bundesliga match. 

Roger Schmidt refused to leave the pitch when referee Felix Zwayer (left) ordered him off. Reuters/Ina Fassbender

Schmidt, 48, was also fined 20,000 euros for his show of dissent during the match between Leverkusen and Borussia Dortmund on 21 February.

The DFB also slapped a 10,000 euro fine on Leverkusen's director of sport Rudi Voeller. During a post-match interview, the former Germany international described Felix Zwayer's decision to send Schmidt to the stands as completely unnecessary.

Schmidt became embroiled in a heated exchange with Zwayer following Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's 64th-minute goal at the BayArena.

Despite being told to leave the technical area, Schmidt stood his ground repeatedly demanding explanations from the referee. Eventually Zwayer stopped play and walked off the pitch with his assistants. The match restarted nine minutes later when Schmidt accepted Zwayer's decision. The Gabon international's strike proved to be the winner.

The DFB says that for the games against Mainz, Werder Bremen and Augsburg, Schmidt must have no contact with his players, directly or indirectly, from half an hour before each game until 30 minutes after the final whistle. He is also banned from the team dressing room, the area around it and the players' tunnel. The DFB said that if Schmidt steps out of line before 30 June 2017, he will be hit by a two game ban.